article · Structural Concrete
Recent experimental and numerical research investigates the axial compressive behaviour of square concrete-encased concrete-filled steel tubular short columns containing circular inner steel tubes. Six full-scale column tests with inner diameters between 320 and 500 millimetres examined the effects of sectional diameter and tube thickness on performance. A theoretical model based on fibre analysis was developed and validated using a large database of test results, alongside evaluations of existing codified design rules. The findings confirm that these composite columns achieve enhanced load-bearing capacity and endure significant axial loads without severe strength degradation. Increasing the steel tube thickness strengthens composite action and elevates compressive strength by 27.3 percent. Additionally, ductility depends on concrete strength and stirrup spacing, and the newly formulated design model predicts ultimate strength more accurately than conventional code formulations.
Modern high-rise buildings and large civil infrastructure rely on compact columns capable of carrying heavy structural loads safely. By clarifying how internal steel tubes and surrounding concrete interact under pressure, this research assists structural designers in improving building safety and material efficiency, avoiding unnecessary material expenditure while protecting heavy structures from catastrophic failure.
Structural design consultancies and civil engineering firms could use the proposed calculation model to optimise heavy-duty load-bearing columns in large construction projects. Because the work combines full-scale physical testing with validated numerical analysis, it sits at an applied and tested stage, though integration into national building standards and design software is needed before routine commercial uptake.
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Abstract This article presents experimental and numerical studies on the axial compressive behavior of square concrete‐encased concrete‐filled steel tubular (CECFST) short columns composed of a circular inner steel tube. Tests on six full‐scale short CECFST columns with the inner circular tube diameter varying from 320 to 500 mm were carried out to study the influences of sectional diameter and the tube thickness of circular CFST columns on their axial performance. A theoretical model is developed using fiber analysis method and validated against a large test database. The accuracy of various codified design models is evaluated and a simple model is proposed to calculate their ultimate strengths. Test results show that CECFST columns have improved load carrying capacity and can sustain large axial loads without significant strength degradation. In addition, increasing the thickness of the steel tube significantly improves the composite action of the steel and concrete of the inner CFST column, which increases the compressive strength of CECFST columns by 27.3%. However, the rate of increase in the compressive strength of the core concrete of the CFST column has been found to be higher for the column with a smaller local slenderness ratio. The ductility of CECFST columns is influenced by the concrete strength and the spacing of the stirrups. Furthermore, the design model suggested in this study can provide a better estimation than the codified design models.
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DOI: 10.1002/suco.202100466
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